Nisha Desai Biswal, who is currentlythe assistant administratorfor Asia at the US Agencyfor International Development( USAID), will replace incumbentRobert Blake to head thekey bureau in the state department,making her the first personfrom the Indo-Americancommunity to hold the topdiplomatic position.
WASHINGTON – The USSenate has confirmed Indo-American woman administratorNisha Desai Biswal as the assistantsecretary of state for Southand Central Asia, making herthe first person from the communityto hold the top diplomaticposition.Biswal, who is currently theassistant administrator for Asiaat the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID), will replace incumbentRobert Blake to head thekey bureau in the state department.President Barack Obamahad nominated her for this topposition on July 18.The Senate foreign relationscommittee had held her confirmationhearing last month, duringwhich she received bipartisansupport and was praised bylawmakers from both the parties.”I consider you anothercompelling argument for comprehensiveimmigrationreform,” said Senator JohnMcCain of the RepublicanParty. “Despite your misguidedpolitical affiliation, I would liketo say that you’re a great exampleto all of us of people whocome to this country. I knowyou were very young … and theopportunities that this countryprovides,” McCain said in praiseof Biswal, who is from theDemocratic Party. McCain wholost out to Obama in the 2008presidential elections rarelypraises someone from theDemocratic Party. From 2005to 2010, she was the majorityclerk for the state departmentand foreign operations subcommitteeon the Committee onappropriations in the US Houseof Representatives.
From 2002 to 2005, she served as thePolicy and advocacy director at interaction.Previously, she served on the professionalstaff of the US House ofRepresentatives international relationscommittee from 1999 to 2002.Daughter of first generation IndianAmericans, Biswal draws her inspirationfrom her parents’ story of journey farfrom rural India to pursue the AmericanDream and a better life for their children,which she told lawmakers during the confirmationhearing of her current positionon July 21, 2010.
